More on Faith and Family Alliance

Norman Leahy over at Tertium Quids is upping the ante on the Abramoff front group, Faith and Family Alliance. He takes Tim Phillips and Philip Cox to task:

He's right when he say this will make things awkward for a lot of folks. But I think the real targets here aren't necessarily Pat Mullins or Bob McDonnell. Rather, they are the consultants who brought the Faith and Family Alliance together in the first place -- Tim Phillips and Phil Cox. Both of them, for reasons that continue to amaze me, are somehow highly regarded in some Republican and conservative circles.

Neither gentleman has answered for the extraordinarily shady actions of the FFA -- which, according to its disgraced (and jailed) former director, Robin Vanderwall, was little more than a money laundering operation for the now-incarcerated Jack Abramoff.

If these two keen consultants -- who, again -- maintain a level of trust within certain Virginia political circles were unaware of this, then their reputations as smart operators are vastly overblown. If they did know, then the obvious question is why they haven't been held accountable for the FFA's activities.

So much of what is wrong with Virginia politics can be traced directly back to the clubby, and somewhat sleazy, consulting class that continues to enrich itself at the expense of all else. It's high-time for a strong dose of sunlight to shine on their actions. And focusing that light on the string-pullers behind the FFA would be an excellent place to start.

Republican Hacks that Supported Bush's Bailout

This article in the Wisconsin State Journal points out that Newt Gingrich and Tim Phillips, who helped organize teabagging parties on April 15th, supported the Bush/Paulson bailout of 2008. Hypocrites.

After reading coverage of the "tea parties" across the country, I noticed that there were a few groups that helped organize them that had supported the Bush/Paulson bailout last year.

I find it interesting that Newt Gingrich and Americans for Prosperity supported the Wall Street bailout when there was a Republican in the White House, but now they are helping protest the wasteful spending and bailouts that President Barack Obama is pushing.

Personally I oppose all the bailouts and wasteful spending, regardless of who is in charge of Congress or the White House. But for conservative groups to be taken seriously, they need to stick to their principles instead of going along with Republicans when they act like Democrats.

By supporting the Wall Street bailout last year, Gingrich and Americans for Prosperity lose credibility with those of us who are mad about the fiscal irresponsibility of both parties.

Abramoff and Sleazy Republicans

The conservative blog Tertium Quids has a couple of good posts up today about Jack Abramoff and his Republican chums Tim Phillips and Philip Cox.

Phillips, now head of Americans for Prosperity, set up an Abramoff front group in Virginia called The Faith and Family Alliance. Cox is now Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell's campaign manager.

Read what even the conservative bloggers are saying about these guys and The Faith and Family Alliance.

The funny thing is that in spite of the ugliness this group fostered, its main players continue to show up so often, and with such prominence, in Republican, and even national, circles -- often with no questions asked.

That is unacceptable. And if nothing else happens during this election cycle, more light will be shed on what people like Cox and Phillips knew about the group's workings, its corrupt ties to Abramoff and, ultimately, their links to and knowledge of the anti-Cantor mailer.

One would think Bob McDonnell would have asked those questions. Several years ago. Obviously, the line of inquiry was either perfunctory or nonexistent.

I'm sure the Democrats won't be as circumspect.